The Carbon Brief sees further delays to Hinkley as affecting the UK’s ability to meet its carbon budgets.

Reuters reports that, as part of the Areva arrangement, EDF has signed a preliminary deal to build six nuclear power plants in India; it has been called ‘the world’s biggest nuclear contract’.

Meanwhile China, emboldened by its role in the Hinkley project, has announced its intention to build 40 nuclear power plants in the next 5 years, reports The Times.

At the launch of a white paper on tackling nuclear emergencies, the country’s lead nuclear official outlined the government’s intention to develop floating offshore reactors, and would not rule out placing them in the disputed waters of the South China Sea,reports Strait Times.

Oil & Gas: Shell and BG Group to go ahead with mega-merger

Crude oil prices are hovering just below $33 a barrel after Russia teased the prospect of coordinating with OPEC on global supply strategy, reports Reuters.

Though a marked improvement from where it was just a week ago, the oil market is still pretty depressed.

To help cope with the ongoing price crisis, David Cameron will fly to Aberdeen to announce a £250m package to prop up the North Sea oil industry, reports The FT.

But Shell has not been deterred, with its shareholders electing to approve the company $49bn takeover of BG Group, reports the BBC.